3 posts tagged “tampa bay”

Sean says...

I have to say first off that since 1986 I have rooted for an loved the Boston Red Sox through bad times and two World Series sweeps.  But, with the combined factors of family loyalty and major underdog status I am becoming a "frontrunner" fan for the underdog Tampa Bay Rays.  Of course, I have to mention that Stefan's brother Andy does a great job with his on-air partner Dave Wills in calling of of the Rays games on WHNZ 1250AM and the Rays Baseball Radio Network. Beyond the love of family though is the power of underdog status; and this year even the most die-hard fan of any team has to be amazed at the great start the Rays are forging.

Tampa Bay Rays

Mature in some areas but raw in others, Manager Joe Madden and General Manager Andrew Friedman (and his front office) have really made something special. Whether it lasts into the playoffs or not is both too "Pollyanna"-ish to specualte about and beyond predictability at this point in the season. In fact, the pundits on ESPN, Fox Sports, and Sports Illustrated are treating this surge with kid gloves because no one knows where this new level of play is going to take the fate of this season's team. But all of this is making me enjoy baseball even more from a fan level rather than my normal commitment to the famed Red Sox.

Listening to Andy and Dave call of May 13, 2008's game versus the New York Yankees (spits and grumbles to the side) was just incredible for the emotional milestone it was. The Rays scored against both the incredible steamroller that is Chien-Ming Wang and the venerable Darth Vader of Yankee pitching and true Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera in the same game using small ball is amazing to begin with! But with Edwin Jackson pitching 7 innings of shut out baseball against the Evil Empire is just a huge cherry on Tampa's cake. Troy Percival's 2nd blown save in the 9th not withstanding (come on dude!), the game couldn't have ended better with the huge surge of emotion that could be heard on the radio and seen in the TV clips after the game winning single by Gabe Gross to bring in Jonny Gomes in the 11th. And with that the Rays capped a moment that in a way killed their own curse of not being contenders in the toughest division in baseball and surged into a 1/2 game lead in a divison brutal in its history to those not from Boston or New York. The reaction of fans and players made it seem like they HAD won the World Series just then!  And in their minds I bet you they felt they did win something. The Rays are reaching a summit at a time where even they didn't think they would make it too. Remind me of the Colorado Rockies of last year and the heart they truly brought to baseball. All the emotion was a great thing to experience even if it is fleeting or not... you don't want to jinx things you know!

So go Rays... just don't beat the Red Sox!

The McFreeds issue a radio tuning alert!...

Attention all Floridian major league baseball fans!!!  The 2008 season has begun and that means Stefan's brother Andy Freed is working it on 1250 AM WHNZ radio with his on-air partner Dave Wills. 

Andy Freed

The Tampa Bay Rays made some changes in the off-season for the better and are slated as one of the teams to do well this year!  As long as they don't beat the Boston Red Sox, Sean is excited to see the Rays win this year! If you love listening to baseball on radio, even if you are not a Rays fan, take a gander on how they call the game and tell them the McFreeds sent you!  We try and catch all the games on mlb.com's audio set up which are also available on XM as well.  

Tampa Bay Rays

Sean says...

Well my 15 minutes was extended by 15 seconds yesterday!  Stefan's brother Andy (who is listening right now shhh!) paid me a big honor by giving me a shout out during his and his radio partner Dave's call of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays - (my beloved) Boston Red Sox Game #3 this week! 

I know I "harrassed" him about Boston's Mike Lowell being the best thing in the world but I didn't expect a reward for it!  Thanks Andy!   It meant a ton! Now if Tampa could have just lost that game instead of winning 6 - 5 than I would have been even happier!

Mike Powell out of Red Sox Uniform